By Maxey H.B. No. 1654 76R1798 MI-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the regulation of private sewage facilities; providing 1-3 a criminal penalty. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 7, Water Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Section 7.1735 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 7.1735. VIOLATION OF RULE OR ORDER RELATING TO SEWAGE 1-8 DISPOSAL SYSTEM. (a) A person commits an offense if the person 1-9 violates a rule adopted by the commission under Chapter 366, Health 1-10 and Safety Code, or an order or resolution adopted by an authorized 1-11 agent under Subchapter C, Chapter 366, Health and Safety Code. 1-12 (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. 1-13 SECTION 2. Section 7.189, Water Code, is amended to read as 1-14 follows: 1-15 Sec. 7.189. VENUE. (a) Venue for prosecution of an alleged 1-16 violation under this subchapter is in: 1-17 (1) the county in which the violation is alleged to 1-18 have occurred; 1-19 (2) the county where the defendant resides; 1-20 (3) if the alleged violation involves the 1-21 transportation of a discharge, waste, or pollutant, any county to 1-22 which or through which the discharge, waste, or pollutant was 1-23 transported; or 1-24 (4) Travis County. 2-1 (b) Venue for prosecution of an alleged violation described 2-2 by Section 7.1735 is in justice court. 2-3 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-4 SECTION 4. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies 2-5 only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this 2-6 Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before 2-7 the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs 2-8 before that date. 2-9 (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this 2-10 Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, 2-11 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 2-12 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.